DeFuniak Springs


30a.news

Decision undertaken to bring new Walton County administrator on board

GROUP OF FIVE candidates for the Walton County administrator position with whom county commissioners had met individually for interviews in October. The commissioners ranked the candidates at the Nov. 10 BCC meeting and voted to have staff proceed with negotiations to hire a top-ranked candidate. By DOTTY NIST After operating for over seven months with an interim county administrator, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has taken action aimed at filling the vacant county administrator position. The officials took up the matter at their Nov. 10 regular meeting at the Walton County Courthouse, prompted by Walton County Human Resources Director Nathan Kervin, who asked for direction on the search for a county administrator. In September, the BCC had voted to schedule interviews with six candidates whose resumes were among a total of 40 obtained in connection with the vacancy, the resumes having been furnished by GovHR USA, the search firm enlisted by the commissioners. The six candidates approved for interviewing had included Alan S. Braithwaite of Oldmar, Fla., Dale T. “Doc” Dougherty of Garden City, Mich., James D. Drumm of Lancaster, Pa., Brian Geoghegan of Howell, N.J., Rick Rudometkin of Huntsville. Texas, and Carlos Tobar of Milledgeville, Ga. The commissioners met individually with the five of the six candidates (Dougherty, Drumm, Geoghegan, Rudometkin, and Tobar) on Oct. 12 for interviews, according to information provided at the BCC meeting. (Braithwaite is no longer under consideration since he withdrew his application, according to Walton County Public Information Officer Rachel Jenkins.)... Read More

30a.news

DFS City Council hears comments over wall in Historic District [PREMIUM]

Stories [ November 16, 2022 ] Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Nov. 10 regular meeting [PREMIUM] News [ November 16, 2022 ] Several subdivision requests dominate Planning Commission meeting [PREMIUM] News [ November 16, 2022 ] Transportation infrastructure solutions discussed at BCC meeting [PREMIUM] News [ November 16, 2022 ] Decision undertaken to bring new Walton County administrator on board News [ November 16, 2022 ] DFS City Council hears comments over wall in Historic District [PREMIUM] Uncategorized [ November 16, 2022 ] November 16, 2022 Legals Legal Notices WAYNE HURLEY Story and photos by ADRIANNE WALLINE CAMPBELL  Due to the Nov. 15 press deadline, this is Subscribe or log in to read the rest of this content. © Copyright, Defuniak Herald-Breeze — All Rights Reserved | Designed @ Beach Web Design & IT Read More


30a.news

School Board hears updates on collective bargaining agreements, employee bonuses [PREMIUM]

Stories [ November 9, 2022 ] School Board updated on class action lawsuit against Juul vaping company Uncategorized [ November 9, 2022 ] Freeport City Council welcomes new member, hears legislative updates [PREMIUM] News [ November 9, 2022 ] WCEDA discusses new executive director position [PREMIUM] News [ November 9, 2022 ] School Board hears updates on collective bargaining agreements, employee bonuses [PREMIUM] News [ November 9, 2022 ] Triumph Gulf Coast discusses projects, priorities, and goals News [ November 9, 2022 ] TRC advances requests for large subdivisions, apartments, lodging, rezonings, and PUD amendment [PREMIUM] News Story by ADRIANNE WALLINE CAMPBELL The Walton County School Board held its regular meeting at t Subscribe or log in to read the rest of this content. © Copyright, Defuniak Herald-Breeze — All Rights Reserved | Designed @ Beach Web Design & IT Read More

30a.news

Triumph Gulf Coast discusses projects, priorities, and goals

TRIUMPH BOARD (Photo from Susan Skelton, Triumph Gulf Coast) By RUBY KEARCE  The Triumph Gulf Coast Board met for a workshop in the Walton County Commission Chambers in Freeport on Wednesday, Nov 2.  Pamella Dana, Ph. D, one of the original Triumph Gulf Coast Board members who served from 2013 to 2021, served as Vice Chair in 2020, and was a crucial part of laying the groundwork for the Triumph Gulf Coast Board, was asked to relay a brief history of the Triumph Gulf Coast Board.   She reported that The BP Oil spill occurred in 2010, tainting gulf waters and staining beaches, leading to a decline in tourism, restaurant patronage and hotel stays, as well as being harmful to marine life. Both actual and perceived damage was detrimental to the entire state. So in 2011  the legislature began to address the negative economic and environmental impact of the spill, exposing the extreme vulnerability of Northwest Florida’s economy, which instigated action to create a meaningful program to address the issue. In 2013 the Florida Legislature created the Gulf Coast Economic Corridor Act, intended to help diversify the economy in the way of funding, while also creating the Triumph Gulf Coast Board to guide grant funding.  Legislation requires Triumph Gulf Coast make awards to projects that meet the priorities for economic recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the region. Keeping in mind that economic strategy and goals can look different from county to county, between 2013 and 2017 the board held a number... Read More

30a.news

More than 3,000 grams of cocaine seized WCSO reports arrests made during Operation Hans Gruber

SHERIFF MIKE ADKINSON (at podium) with Assistant Special Agent Drug Enforcement Agency Mike Dubet and United States Attorney Jason Coody. From RUBY KEARCE  Assistant Special Agent for the Drug Enforcement Agency Mike Dubet and United States Attorney Jason Coody joined Walton County’s Sheriff, Michael Adkinson, at a press conference Thursday evening, Oct 27, regarding Operation Hans Gruber. This operation represents a year-long investigation that had come to a head that morning.  Members from Walton county Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) joined forces with the Department of HomeLand Security to make 25 arrests for Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine in Walton County and surrounding counties, with four suspects still at large and more warrants expected. Four of the arrested suspects have already been federally indicted, have pleaded guilty, and are awaiting sentencing. The remaining individuals have been charged by the state and are awaiting arraignment. Over the course of the WCSO investigation, they have successfully taken into custody upwards of 3,000 grams of cocaine, 2,500 grams of cannabis,  multiple firearms, and 50 grams of crack. Regarding the length of the investigation, Sheriff Adkinson said “Making an arrest is half the battle; the other half is that it must lead to a successful prosecution, and I think that is where the time and effort has led.”  U.S. Attorney Coody said, “These investigations take time and the citizens should know that it is not a matter of how quickly or expeditiously an arrest is made, but that the prosecutions are built in such a way that... Read More

30a.news

Freeport City Council fills vacant seats, sets holiday schedule [PREMIUM]

[ November 2, 2022 ] More than 3,000 grams of cocaine seized WCSO reports arrests made during Operation Hans Gruber Uncategorized [ November 2, 2022 ] Freeport City Council fills vacant seats, sets holiday schedule [PREMIUM] News [ November 2, 2022 ] Glidewell presents resolution pledging no bonds for five years based on infrastructure tax [PREMIUM] News [ November 2, 2022 ] First public hearing held on revised Short Term Vacation Rental Ordinance [PREMIUM] News [ November 2, 2022 ] SUV runs down Blue Mountain Beach access, causing extensive damage News [ November 2, 2022 ] November 2, 2022 Legals Legal Notices Read More



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